The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-01
THE LOST PROPELLER.
Great Sacrifice of HumanT Life on Lake
Michigan,

Michigan.
MILWAUKEE. Wiss., October 3d. The
steamship Superior, arriving here last night,
nroughtthe first news of the total wreck of
WIS. That the wreck is that of the propeller
vernon, of the Northern Michigan line, is es-
tablished at most beyond doubt. She was due
mere yesterday, and from the description of
the fragments seen by the crew of the SUI
her identity fully established. She
men and several passengers, the exact
number not being known, and it is supposed
that all hands persisted. Captain Moran, of
the Superior, saw three or four RATS with men
cnnglng to them, and also small boat con-
tanning woman and three men. Although
he made an effort to rescue them, the high sea
prevented the rendering of any assistance, the
superior being herself disabled, and requiring
the crews best efforts. 1t was about 10 o'clock
Ill the morning when the first signs of the
wreck, IN the shape of the floating cargo and
furniture, We're seen. About an hour later
RATS were sighted. On some the occupants
were almost gone, while others signalled the
Superior. Captain Williams, of the schooner
Joseph Paige, arrived last night at o'clock
and reported having seen wreckage about
SIX miles east of Two Rivers point, evidently
of the passenger vessel. One of the crew saw
q body, and piece of the pilot house with a
man on it was next seen. The sea was run
ming SO high that ii was impossible for the
Joseph Paige to get near enough to the man
to pick him up.
Captain Moran, of the steamship Superior,
brought the first news of the wreck tonight:
- passed one man on q raft appealing for our
help, another dying from exposure, and small
boat IN whlchwe could see one woman and
three men, one waving q coat to attract atten-
ton, all being tossed about in the terrible sea,
without our being able to render them any as
slstance, was heartrending in tho ex-
IRENE" said Captain Moran. eve were
also lighting for our lives. With the excep
ton of the cooks, every man was down below
Our tiller had become disconnected from the
rudder post, leaving us at the mercy of the
seas, until we managed to rig up q temporary
tackle. With this we kept our vessel out of
the trough of the sea, and kept her before the
gale. 1t was three hours before we could ham
die ourselves, and then we were out of sight of
the shlpWrecked men. There is a possihility
that large schooner coming up the lake after
US may have picked up the persons III the boat.
She was three OF four miles astern of US, and [
could see through glass that she was heading
towards them, but She may have been bound
for Manitowac, and could have passed without
seeing them. There was little possibility that
she could have taken the men off the RATS,
and 1t is even doubtful if she could pick up the
yawl in such sea. If she could get close
enough to throw them line, as she scudded
by, and they held on to it,
there 70 night mi It'd be "a S chance for
! have experienced in all my life on the lakes.
The Sandusky, which we had in tow, some
times buried herself SO that only half of her
mast could be seen. Once she stayed under so
long | thought she was gone"
Many will attribute the vessels loss to over
loading. Without cargo she was a deeper
draft vessel than any on the lakes, and it was
impossible to load her with profit to her own
ers without making her unseaworthy. In order
to obtain great speed her builder sacrificed
buoyancy and stability, and every experienced
man who saw the Vernon after she was
launched, predicted that she would sooner or
later meet with disaster.
News of the loss of thepropeller Vernon was
received among the Chicago vesselmen with
great surprise, as she was recognized by them
as one of the staunchiest boats for her size that
was on the lakes and captains who had sailed
her all agree that she should weather the
toughest storm if handled properly AS the
vessel had four good boats it is thought that
some of the thirty or more aboard must have
escaped. The night was freezingly cold.
Nothing is known as to what passengers were
aboard. The captain of one vessel reports
passing three dead bodies near Three rivers.
The vessel cost $4,000 and was insured for
$37, 900.